How Branding and Design Should Use Color Management Tech
Colors speak loudly when it comes to brands. The professionals responsible for brand color from concept to final product need to speak the same language to ensure colors are communicating the correct message. You may think that ideal is hard to achieve. Take a look to discover how you can get the color management skills from leading companies to communicate brand color, maintain its integrity through the workflow, and save costs. For some real-world insight, in the comprehensive rebranding of American Airlines, the iconic brand’s red, white, and blue signature colors were reinvigorated. A product of extensive market research, the update was made to evoke a “more modern, vibrant, and welcoming spirit” that represents modern American ideals. Leading the project was Chief Creative Officer Sven Seger of FutureBrand, a creative branding agency that helps companies like American Airlines use color to enhance their brand. Seger, one keynote at the 2013 Color Management Conference, modernized the brand, creating a new livery and logo. The first in the last 40 years, this update effectively communicates the brand and remains consistent across different aircraft composite materials, ticketing kiosks, credit cards, and other substrates as well as online. Seger goes in depth at the conference as to how his team defined the American brand’s core message and created a design that saves their client resources by being repeatable across multiple substrates. A further example of how the rebranding experts of FutureBrand approach critical color consistency is in the creation of a new visual identity for UPS that was carried across all of the brand’s products from vehicles to uniforms to packaging. They also helped their clients communicate the revamped look through the workflow of design, production, and implementation of the new brand. The rebrand included a “color palette designed to both complement and energize brown—the company’s signature color for over 100 years.” According to this FutureBrand case study, the rebranding resulted in 13% increased earnings and ranked in FORTUNE Magazine’s Top 50 in brand recognition in 2011. Creative software company Adobe is one that is constantly putting out more innovative products to help designers maintain color from screen to print like Creative CloudTM, Photoshop® CC, and Illustrator® CC. Adobe Senior Creative Director Russell Brown is an Emmy Award-winning instructor, Adobe Photoshop virtuoso, and host of a popular Web tutorials series, “The Russell Brown Show.” Brown utilizes creative Photoshop design techniques to get the most precise colors. Another all-star keynote at the 2013 Color Management Conference, he offers aesthetic and technical tips to maximize software for consistent color management. Passionate about adding real tangibility to his work, he states that “projects aren’t real until we have something we can touch, like a print,” said Brown in a Photoshop.com interview. His zeal inspires what he calls “extreme printing,” or creating unique pieces with decals from images imprinted on different surfaces. “The possibilities are endless, and I am always searching for that next crazy way to work with images.” Brown shares his tricks and troubleshooting techniques to get the best color output from your Photoshop designs at this one-of-a-kind...
read moreKodak names emergence board
Yesterday the group filed a supplement to its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganisation that detailed its planned new executive line-up. Perez remains as chief executive on a base salary of $1.1m (£723,000). He has agreed to take the role for one year from Kodak’s emergence from Chapter 11, or until the board elects his successor. At such time he would continue to work for Kodak as a full-time advisor for the remainder of his contract term. The court document stated that Perez “is subject to a two-year non-competition covenant following the termination of his services, in exchange for a $1m annual cash payment and up to a $2m contingent payment on the basis of achievement of performance metrics and service as a consultant during the noncompetition period”. In 2012 Perez’s total package including bonus and options was $5.47m, down on the $6.98m he received in 2011. Doug Edwards continues as president of digital printing and enterprise, on a base salary of $450,000. Brad Krutchen will have a base salary of $465,000 in his role as president of graphics, entertainment and commercial films. This division includes Kodak’s prepress business. The other executive officers are: Gustavo Oviedo, managing director Latin America region and managing director and chief customer officer for emerging geographies; Eric Samuels, controller; Patrick Sheller, chief administrative officer; Terry Taber, chief technical officer; and Laura Quatela, senior vice president, who will over see the sale and transition of Kodak’s Personalised Imaging business to the Kodak Pension Plan (KPP) in the UK. A raft of share options and bonus targets under Kodak’s EXCEL annual incentive plan form part of the new executive packages, with a special transition deal for Quatela. Three months ago Kodak announced it would sell two of its businesses to KPP in a move that helped to fund its emergence from Chapter 11 and solve its pension liability problem in the UK. Earlier this week the Financial Times described Kodak’s UK pension fund as “scrambling to collect votes from members” in order to gain the clear majority required for the new pension arrangements to be rubber-stamped by the Pension Protection Fund. The original deadline of July 12 has been extended, according to the newspaper. The court deadline for objections to Kodak’s reorganisation plan is 9 August, with the vital ‘confirmation hearing’ currently set for 20 August....
read moreKodak names emergence board
Yesterday the group filed a supplement to its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganisation that detailed its planned new executive line-up. Perez remains as chief executive on a base salary of $1.1m (£723,000). He has agreed to take the role for one year from Kodak’s emergence from Chapter 11, or until the board elects his successor. At such time he would continue to work for Kodak as a full-time advisor for the remainder of his contract term. The court document stated that Perez “is subject to a two-year non-competition covenant following the termination of his services, in exchange for a $1m annual cash payment and up to a $2m contingent payment on the basis of achievement of performance metrics and service as a consultant during the noncompetition period”. In 2012 Perez’s total package including bonus and options was $5.47m, down on the $6.98m he received in 2011. Doug Edwards continues as president of digital printing and enterprise, on a base salary of $450,000. Brad Krutchen will have a base salary of $465,000 in his role as president of graphics, entertainment and commercial films. This division includes Kodak’s prepress business. The other executive officers are: Gustavo Oviedo, managing director Latin America region and managing director and chief customer officer for emerging geographies; Eric Samuels, controller; Patrick Sheller, chief administrative officer; Terry Taber, chief technical officer; and Laura Quatela, senior vice president, who will over see the sale and transition of Kodak’s Personalised Imaging business to the Kodak Pension Plan (KPP) in the UK. A raft of share options and bonus targets under Kodak’s EXCEL annual incentive plan form part of the new executive packages, with a special transition deal for Quatela. Three months ago Kodak announced it would sell two of its businesses to KPP in a move that helped to fund its emergence from Chapter 11 and solve its pension liability problem in the UK. Earlier this week the Financial Times described Kodak’s UK pension fund as “scrambling to collect votes from members” in order to gain the clear majority required for the new pension arrangements to be rubber-stamped by the Pension Protection Fund. The original deadline of July 12 has been extended, according to the newspaper. The court deadline for objections to Kodak’s reorganisation plan is 9 August, with the vital ‘confirmation hearing’ currently set for 20 August....
read morePay rises in the offing, survey suggests
“Corporate balance sheets are still being squeezed to the last penny,” said Basil Bannayi, managing director of Close Brothers Asset Finance’s print division. “But it is encouraging to see that some, if only a few, are starting to see pay increases.” The findings were included in the Close Brothers Business Barometer, a quarterly survey of SME owners and managers across a range of sectors, which included 550 companies. The survey revealed that of 33 print and packaging companies, 20% gave staff pay rises in the last year – double that of 2012. Meanwhile 17% anticipated giving staff a pay rise within the next 12 months. “Taking inflation into account the print industry has contracted 25% in five years. It has a revenue of about £9bn, a reduction of 6% in one year. So it’s hard to see how there could be many pay rises or much capital investment or expansion,” said Bannayi. He added that although the last few years had been challenging, the survey findings may suggest that there were “still some printers who have viable business models” and were still able to reward staff for their efforts. “Hopefully this is a sign that things have begun to pick up,” he said. “I think things will get better in the next year or two. People have become weary of talking the industry down. The enormous cull of firms without viable business models is nearing completion,” Bannayi added. “Companies have managed to evolve and work to the challenges. Some have latched on to alternatives to going cap in hand to the bank manager for an overdraft. Some are using asset finance, but more need to explore alternatives.” Bannayi said that of the print and packaging firms surveyed, two thirds had not approached their bank in the last six months, with a quarter of those admitting they were worried their existing overdraft may be cut. “It is essential these SMEs are aware of their financial options if they are to safeguard any tentative progress towards recovery.”...
read morePay rises in the offing, survey suggests
“Corporate balance sheets are still being squeezed to the last penny,” said Basil Bannayi, managing director of Close Brothers Asset Finance’s print division. “But it is encouraging to see that some, if only a few, are starting to see pay increases.” The findings were included in the Close Brothers Business Barometer, a quarterly survey of SME owners and managers across a range of sectors, which included 550 companies. The survey revealed that of 33 print and packaging companies, 20% gave staff pay rises in the last year – double that of 2012. Meanwhile 17% anticipated giving staff a pay rise within the next 12 months. “Taking inflation into account the print industry has contracted 25% in five years. It has a revenue of about £9bn, a reduction of 6% in one year. So it’s hard to see how there could be many pay rises or much capital investment or expansion,” said Bannayi. He added that although the last few years had been challenging, the survey findings may suggest that there were “still some printers who have viable business models” and were still able to reward staff for their efforts. “Hopefully this is a sign that things have begun to pick up,” he said. “I think things will get better in the next year or two. People have become weary of talking the industry down. The enormous cull of firms without viable business models is nearing completion,” Bannayi added. “Companies have managed to evolve and work to the challenges. Some have latched on to alternatives to going cap in hand to the bank manager for an overdraft. Some are using asset finance, but more need to explore alternatives.” Bannayi said that of the print and packaging firms surveyed, two thirds had not approached their bank in the last six months, with a quarter of those admitting they were worried their existing overdraft may be cut. “It is essential these SMEs are aware of their financial options if they are to safeguard any tentative progress towards recovery.”...
read moreAntimicrobial silver coating rolled out for print
N9 Pure Silver, developed by UK and India-based N9 World Technologies, has been used in sportswear, underwear, socks, workwear and soft furnishings for around four years and, after two years of testing, is being targetted at new markets. The coating, which the company claims reduces surface bacteria by 99.99%, has been introduced to consultant directories at private hospital Spire Healthcare and to a range of Ink Publishing titles, including the customer magazines of Easyjet, Eurostar and Thomas Cook. “Silver is a natural antimicrobial agent and this is exactly the same coating as for textiles – particles of pure colloidal silver suspended in de-ionised water,” said N9 print development manager Derek Adams. The coating can be applied with an inline coating unit or, for heatset web presses, can be mixed with silicone to be applied at the post-oven stage of production, Adams explained. He added that the company also believed N9 Pure Silver was suitable for gravure printing as well. “We have had a conversation with someone about gravure. I was told it would be possible to apply as a vapour with a spray bar. So in theory it could work on gravure as well,” said Adams. According to N9, Pure Silver kills 99.99% of bacteria including E. coli, MRSA and C. diff. “It is also non-migrating – it doesn’t come off the page. Once it’s there, it’s there for good,” said Adams. He added that, thanks to its special ‘blue’ formula, N9 Pure Silver doesn’t discolour print in the way that some other silver-based antimicrobial coatings can. Potential future applications for the coating are wide ranging, said Adams: “This is very, very inexpensive, we’re looking at, depending on the job, adding probably less than 1% across the job. Because of this low cost it has got the potential to become the industry standard. It could be used on any piece of shared print.” Adams said the company was in talks with a number of magazine publishers and playing card manufacturers, and also with one potential distributor. Bank notes were another key future application, he said: “The other great thing about this is it prevents the growth of mold, so with bank notes, though they may be stored for unknown lengths of time, that could be quite a good safeguard.” N9 Pure Silver joins another recent launch in the antimicrobial coating market, BioSeal. This coating promises to reduce surface bacteria by 99.999% and consists of a biocide that involves micro-particles in a resin....
read moreAntimicrobial silver coating rolled out for print
N9 Pure Silver, developed by UK and India-based N9 World Technologies, has been used in sportswear, underwear, socks, workwear and soft furnishings for around four years and, after two years of testing, is being targetted at new markets. The coating, which the company claims reduces surface bacteria by 99.99%, has been introduced to consultant directories at private hospital Spire Healthcare and to a range of Ink Publishing titles, including the customer magazines of Easyjet, Eurostar and Thomas Cook. “Silver is a natural antimicrobial agent and this is exactly the same coating as for textiles – particles of pure colloidal silver suspended in de-ionised water,” said N9 print development manager Derek Adams. The coating can be applied with an inline coating unit or, for heatset web presses, can be mixed with silicone to be applied at the post-oven stage of production, Adams explained. He added that the company also believed N9 Pure Silver was suitable for gravure printing as well. “We have had a conversation with someone about gravure. I was told it would be possible to apply as a vapour with a spray bar. So in theory it could work on gravure as well,” said Adams. According to N9, Pure Silver kills 99.99% of bacteria including E. coli, MRSA and C. diff. “It is also non-migrating – it doesn’t come off the page. Once it’s there, it’s there for good,” said Adams. He added that, thanks to its special ‘blue’ formula, N9 Pure Silver doesn’t discolour print in the way that some other silver-based antimicrobial coatings can. Potential future applications for the coating are wide ranging, said Adams: “This is very, very inexpensive, we’re looking at, depending on the job, adding probably less than 1% across the job. Because of this low cost it has got the potential to become the industry standard. It could be used on any piece of shared print.” Adams said the company was in talks with a number of magazine publishers and playing card manufacturers, and also with one potential distributor. Bank notes were another key future application, he said: “The other great thing about this is it prevents the growth of mold, so with bank notes, though they may be stored for unknown lengths of time, that could be quite a good safeguard.” N9 Pure Silver joins another recent launch in the antimicrobial coating market, BioSeal. This coating promises to reduce surface bacteria by 99.999% and consists of a biocide that involves micro-particles in a resin....
read morePrintIT! secures sponsorship and sets sights on mentoring
It is the Cambridge-based inkjet manufacturer’s sixth year supporting the scheme, which promotes print to students. Xaar director of marketing, Mark Alexander, said: “For the industry to thrive it is vital to attract fresh talent to sustain the relevance of print as a powerful, cost-effective communication medium and industrial manufacturing process.” Richard Moore, programme director for Proskills, the standards-setting body behind PrintIT!, said the initiative was the largest schools-into-industry programme in the UK, but could not rest on its laurels. “The most important thing is for PrintIT! to remain self-funding as there is no government money. Without input from the industry in cash, time and prizes there won’t be a programme. “I don’t think there is another vehicle for doing what this does. Despite being the fifth or sixth largest industry in the country print does not feature heavily with schools and is not at the top of lists in job centres,” added Moore. Yet, he said, more than 140,000 students from nearly 2,000 schools had taken part in PrintIT! since its launch in 2005. This year’s programme prompted 4,000 students from 100 schools to register. He added: “I would like to develop the initiative so it links all the way through to apprenticeships, work placements and university graphic design courses, and where we could follow them on social media like Facebook. “It would be fantastic if we could form partnerships with local printers, who would take on these young people in a mentoring way and stay in touch and help guide them into training and careers.”...
read morePrintIT! secures sponsorship and sets sights on mentoring
It is the Cambridge-based inkjet manufacturer’s sixth year supporting the scheme, which promotes print to students. Xaar director of marketing, Mark Alexander, said: “For the industry to thrive it is vital to attract fresh talent to sustain the relevance of print as a powerful, cost-effective communication medium and industrial manufacturing process.” Richard Moore, programme director for Proskills, the standards-setting body behind PrintIT!, said the initiative was the largest schools-into-industry programme in the UK, but could not rest on its laurels. “The most important thing is for PrintIT! to remain self-funding as there is no government money. Without input from the industry in cash, time and prizes there won’t be a programme. “I don’t think there is another vehicle for doing what this does. Despite being the fifth or sixth largest industry in the country print does not feature heavily with schools and is not at the top of lists in job centres,” added Moore. Yet, he said, more than 140,000 students from nearly 2,000 schools had taken part in PrintIT! since its launch in 2005. This year’s programme prompted 4,000 students from 100 schools to register. He added: “I would like to develop the initiative so it links all the way through to apprenticeships, work placements and university graphic design courses, and where we could follow them on social media like Facebook. “It would be fantastic if we could form partnerships with local printers, who would take on these young people in a mentoring way and stay in touch and help guide them into training and careers.”...
read moreNew MD at Ambassador goes for growth
Antalis, which acquired Ambassador in January 2012, said Smith would build on Antalis’ distribution and service provision skills and combine this with Ambassador’s systems and packaging expertise. Smith said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of further strengthening Ambassador’s market position as a leading provider of packaging materials and packaging solutions. Following last year’s takeover the Cheshire-based packaging business was renamed from Ambassador Packaging to Ambassador Antalis. The addition of its £28m annual sales more than doubled Antalis’ packaging turnover. “We are looking to consolidate and take the combined business forward organically, but have no further acquisition plans in the immediate future. We are looking to grow combined sales by 25% over two years. “I want to grow the business using Antalis’ infrastructure of bases around the country. Our biggest rival is Macfarlane Group but there are other businesses out there too and we want to be seen as best in class.” He said there were big opportunities to benefit from the burgeoning use of packaging by internet companies, while openings could also lie in traditional UK companies starting to enjoy economic recovery. Smith has worked at Antalis for 35 years and is a former regional sales director for the print division in the Midlands and the north. He switched to the packaging division in...
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